Under the treatment of military doctors, Okamura Neji woke up quietly.
"How many planes are left?"
Looking at Moritake Tanabe and Seizo Arisu beside the bed, Okamura Neji's first sentence was to ask about the situation of the plane.
The airport runway can be repaired if it is bombed, but it is not easy to repair the aircraft if it is damaged.
The Japanese military base camp heavily tilted its resources towards the navy. Although the entire Japanese military had many aircraft, most of them were in the navy.
Moreover, the North China Front has lost hundreds of aircraft and a large number of pilots.
The base camp is already very dissatisfied. If the North China Front wants to replenish aircraft, it will take at least three months to half a year.
As for Yoshimoto Teiichi, his plane was shot down and the enemy plane reloaded it with an incendiary bomb. Yoshimoto Teiichi was already dead and could not die anymore, so there was no need to ask.
"Your Excellency General..."
Tanabe Moritake looked ugly:
"Planes of the Eighth Route Army attacked Zhangjiakou Airport, Zhangzhuang Airport in Jinan, Xinxiang Airport in Henan and Baoding Airport. The aircraft of our North China Front Army... have been completely wiped out."
Upon hearing the news, Okamura Neji almost fainted again.
Is it easy for the North China Front to finally accumulate some aircraft?
Taking a deep breath, Okamura Neji suppressed the anger in his heart and asked: "Where are the pilots? How many pilots were lost?"
"The pilot lost half."
Moritake Tanabe replied:
"When enemy planes came to bomb the Peiping Xijiao Airport, the pilots were having lunch in the airport cafeteria. Some pilots wanted to go to the runway and fly the plane into the sky for a decisive battle with the Eighth Route Army, but they failed..."
Okamura Neji's face suddenly turned pale.
The Eighth Route Army should have planned everything very early. After shooting down Yoshimoto Seiichi's plane, they would simultaneously blow up Peiping's Xijiao Airport.
Then they blew up other airports of the North China Front in North China, completely wiping out the aviation force of the North China Front.
This time I really lost my wife and lost my troops.
Neji Okamura gave the order in a cold tone: "Order the intelligence staff to perform a disembowelment to thank the locusts."
intelligence!
There is still a problem with the information.
The Eighth Route Army knew very well the itinerary of Yoshimoto Seiichi and the airports of the Locust Army in North China.
The Japanese army knew nothing about the Eighth Route Army, and they did not even get the slightest bit of information about the Eighth Route Army's equipping of aircraft.
This time, Okamura Neiji not only wanted to find a scapegoat, but also wanted to rectify the intelligence department of the North China Front.
Tanabe Moritake looked serious: "Hi!"
Neji Okamura felt that he had regained some energy, so he ignored the dissuasion of the military doctor and came to the telecommunications room of the headquarters.
"Commander!"
Communications staff officer Haruo Kiya quickly ran over and saluted.
Okamura Neiji looked at Haruo Kiya: "Kugu-kun, immediately connect the radio to the Taiyuan First Army Headquarters. I want to speak to Lieutenant General Yoshio Iwamatsu in person."
"Hi!"
Kitani Haruo did not dare to neglect, and quickly asked a telegraph soldier to call the First Army headquarters by radio.
Since the Eighth Route Army guerrillas often attack roads and railways and cut telephone lines, the North China Front Army Headquarters and the First Army Headquarters are currently unable to communicate by phone.
After a while, Okamura Neji was waiting with the receiver in one hand and the microphone in the other.
…
at the same time.
Taiyuan.
First Army Headquarters.
"Your Excellency, Commander, the Commander of the North China Front, Okamura Nei, wants to speak to you."
Major Shiro Kamekawa walked quickly to Yoshio Iwamatsu and reported to him.
The communications staff of the First Army also went to Wusu Airport to greet the new commander, leaving only a few minions in the communications room of the First Army.
Although Yoshio Iwamatsu was dissatisfied with Okamura Neji in his heart, he did not dare to neglect and walked quickly to the telecommunications room.
As soon as he entered the telecommunications room of the First Army, a telecommunications soldier stood up and gave up his position.
Yoshio Iwamatsu quickly stepped forward, picked up the microphone and receiver, and called: "Moxi Moxi."
"Iwasatsu-kun."
Okamura Neji's voice came from the receiver.
"Your Excellency General..."
Hearing this voice, Yoshio Iwamatsu subconsciously stood up to attention, then lowered his head and nodded.
In fact, Iwamatsu Yoshio and Okamura Neiji have always had a good personal relationship, and Okamura Neiji took a fancy to Iwamatsu Yoshio as a China expert and wanted him to serve as the commander of the First Army and lure Yan Xishan to surrender.
However, since Yoshio Iwamatsu became the commander of the First Army, the First Army has suffered repeated defeats.
In this battle, even two divisions were wiped out by the Eighth Route Army, and the main force of the army stationed in Mongolia was wiped out.
Almost the entire First Army was wiped out by the Eighth Route Army.
Okamura Neiji had to find a scapegoat, relieved Yoshio Iwamatsu from his post as commander of the First Army, and asked Yoshimoto Teiichi to serve as commander of the First Army.
It's a pity that Okamura Neiji didn't ask Shanxi leader Li Yunlong if he would agree.
In the final analysis, Okamura still did not understand the situation in Shanxi.
Whether Shanxi will be in chaos or not, Li Yunlong has the final say, not Neji Okamura and Yoshio Iwamatsu.
Okamura Neiji sighed and went straight to the point: "Commander of the First Army, you should continue to be the commander."
Okamura thought to himself that Yoshimoto Teiichi was also unlucky and was killed before he took over as commander of the First Army.
At this time, it is obviously inappropriate to transfer a lieutenant general from other places to serve as the commander of the First Army.
After all, after such a thing happened, which powerful lieutenant general would dare to serve as the commander of the First Army?
What if he was shot dead by the Eighth Route Army on the way to his post again?
"As expected..."
Iwamatsu Yoshio sneered in his heart, but on the surface he replied respectfully:
"Hi!"
After a pause, Yoshio Iwamatsu said again: "Your Excellency, General, the Eighth Route Army has been equipped with aircraft, and they are fighter-bombers without propellers. They are very powerful. I hope you can add a flying team to the First Army."
Yoshio Iwamatsu agreed first, and then discussed the conditions with Neji Okamura.
If you don't reach out for something at this time, when will you wait?
Yoshio Iwamatsu knew that the North China Front had just been supplemented by another fighter flying team.
If you want the horse to run, you have to give it some grass to eat, right?
"Two hours ago, Peiping Airport was attacked by Eighth Route Army fighter jets and bombers. All aircraft were destroyed and more than half of the pilots were lost."
"Iwamatsu-kun, do you think I still have a flying team to supplement for you?"
Okamura Neji hung up the call with a cold tone.
Even if the plane had not been bombed, Okamura Neiji would not have given Iwamatsu Yoshio an additional aircraft and a pilot, nor would he have added an aviation unit to the First Army.
"Nani?"
Iwamatsu Yoshio's expression changed slightly.
"Flying..."
You Okamura Neji is nothing more than that. He cursed coldly in his heart. Iwamatsu Yoshio suddenly felt comfortable and then hung up the call.
When Yoshio Iwamatsu came out of the telecommunications room and returned to the operations hall, he found that the operations hall was already full of people - officers of the First Army who had returned from the airport.
Although two and a half hours have passed since the air raid, the officers of the First Army have only just returned to the headquarters.
On the one hand, officers are directing troops to put out fires at the airport.
Since the airport was often bombarded by shelling, the Japanese built many bomb-proof holes and air-raid shelters at the airport.
At that time, the Japanese officers were standing very close to an air raid shelter.
When the Eighth Route Army fighter-bombers swooped down, all the Japanese officers ran into the air-raid shelter and luckily escaped with their lives.
On the other hand, some of these officers did not know how to face Yoshio Iwamatsu.
Before the handover between the new commander and the previous commander was completed, they hid the information from the former commander, ignored the First Army's command system, and ran to the airport to greet the new commander.
It would be fine if I received a new commander.
But the problem is...
The new commander of the First Army was shot dead in the air before he took office, and he was shot dead in front of them. After shooting down Yoshimoto Seiichi's plane, he was also reloaded with aerial bombs.
After the infantry on the ground rushed over, even the transport plane was burned to ashes by the horrific incendiary bombs, with only a few aircraft parts remaining, not to mention the body of Yoshimoto Seiichi.
It's very uncomfortable.
Looking at Masa Hanatani, Masao Miyazaki, and a group of staff officers and assistant officers, Yoshio Iwamatsu showed an undisguised sarcasm on his lips:
"I heard that you all went to Takesu Airport to pick up the new commander, Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadichi. Where is Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadichi?"
"Why didn't I see him?"
Except for Kazuki Yamamoto, the faces of the other Japanese officers suddenly became embarrassed and their expressions were wonderful.
Kazuki Yamamoto was sent by Yoshio Iwamatsu to pick up Seiichi Yoshimoto at the airport, but he didn't expect that these officers would also come to join in the fun.
"Your Excellency, Commander."
Chief of Staff Hua Gu was biting the bullet and replied:
"Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadichi's jade was broken into pieces."
"I already know." Yoshio Iwamatsu said calmly, "I just spoke to the commander of the North China Front, Okamura Neiji, and I will continue to serve as the commander of the First Army."
Hearing this, Hanatani Masaru and Miyazaki Masao looked at each other, the expressions of embarrassment and regret on their faces became more intense.
…
at the same time.
Northwest Shanxi.
Dagu Town Airport.
After completing the second phase of the flight mission, the new flight group returned to the airport and landed smoothly.
"Reporting to the head of the regiment, the political commissar, and the flying brigade directly under the new regiment to successfully complete the mission!"
Li Shaorong and Wang Hexin walked quickly into the airport tower. Li Shaorong saluted Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang with a military salute, and reported with a determined expression on his face.
"Haha, your flight team did a great job in this battle!"
Although Li Shaorong and Wang Hexin had already reported the results of the battle to the tower via radio, when Li Shaorong reported it in person, the smile on Li Yunlong's face became more intense:
"I will personally go to the headquarters to ask for credit for your flying brigade. For such a great result, I guess the collective first-class credit cannot escape."
Last time, the Katyusha Rocket Artillery Strengthening Battalion composed of the New First Regiment, the Independent Regiment and the New Second Regiment performed outstandingly in the battle against the Japanese troops stationed in Mongolia, achieved brilliant results, and won the first-class collective merit.
Compared with the last Katyusha Rocket Artillery Reinforcement Battalion, the results of the flying brigade this time were even better. It was no problem to get first-class collective merit.
"Thank you, leader!"
Li Shaorong and Wang Hexin looked at each other and saw a rich joy in each other's eyes.
The flying brigade won first-class collective merit during its first combat mission. It was an incredible honor.
"Thank you. You deserve it."
Li Yunlong's tone pretended to be reproachful, but the expression on his face was extremely satisfied.
"Are there any casualties among the pilots of your flying group?"
Zhao Gang asked with a concerned look on his face. All the pilots in the flying group were treasures, even the members of the Bisword Squadron were treasures.
"Some planes were hit by Japanese bullets, but the pilots were not injured or injured." Li Shaorong said calmly.
There are not many Japanese anti-aircraft guns and machine guns that pose a real threat to fighters and bombers, but the Japanese machine gun firepower is quite intensive.
However, the machine gun firepower is used for air defense, and its power is seriously insufficient.
The aircraft provided by Boss Chen are full of materials and are not comparable to the thin-skinned aircraft of the Japanese. Even the pilot's cockpit is thickened, and the Japanese 7.7mm machine gun bullets cannot penetrate it at all.
Li Yunlong asked: "Can the plane hit by Japanese bullets still perform its mission?"
Li Shaorong and Wang Hexin said, their eyes lit up slightly.
"Captain." Wang Hexin asked with burning eyes, "Will there be any flying combat missions next?"
This chapter has been completed!